How Joselyn Dumas inspires you to achieve your career goals
[bctt tweet=”@Joselyn_Dumas inspires herself and people like me every day. Be like Joselyn!” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When I was tasked to write an article on how Joselyn Dumas inspires us to achieve our career goals, I was stumped. Simply because of all the Ghanaian celebrities (most of whose lives I do not give much thought to or follow on a regular basis, for that matter), Joselyn Dumas was part of my B-listed celebrities. Honestly. But research and knowledge always changes perspective and perception, and after reading and reading all the savoury and unsavoury articles alike, I am delighted to announce that if you were like me, you can be a changed girl now. Unlike what others may think, Joselyn Dumas can actually inspire you to achieve it all. Here is how: 1. Guts She had the guts to quit her job as a paralegal in London to pursue her dream of being a TV personality in Ghana. So how do you contextualize this? It’s simple. Are you stuck in that dead end job, unhappy with your life and atrophied dreams? Leave and don’t look back…with caution please. Follow your passion. Go to your Ghana to be what you want to be. Be like Joselyn Dumas. 2. Body positivity As a woman, Joselyn is endowed —she is all sorts of curvy and beautiful. Unfortunately, some people in the public refuse to stop staring at those hips and start focusing on what she does instead. She has been at the centre of media attention because men won’t stop gawking and ladies will not stop hating because their men are gawking! In spite of this, Joselyn keeps a calm, unruffled demeanour and unashamedly wears clothes that flatters her —not caring what anyone thinks. So for you reader, wear what you want to and do not be ashamed of that body. On a deeper level, this goes to say that you should be true to yourself. It is the first wise step which when taken, will resonate positively in your career goals. [bctt tweet=”Leave and don’t look back…with caution please. Follow your passion. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Wellness Although the cynical Ghanaian public have accused Joselyn of passing off a gastric by-pass as a weight loss plan to justify her figure today, I choose to remain oblivious and believing. Of course, Joselyn knew then that the Ghanaian public can be unforgiving when it comes to overweight TV personalities, so she made the move to join the Weight Watchers’ Club. She had a career goal in mind, and made physical preparations to be suitable for that role. You also have that career goal in mind? Are you reading, learning or losing weight to make the move easier? Consider doing what it takes to get where you want to be. [bctt tweet=”There is a place for a social work. Not every day, yourself. Sometimes, others.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. Giving back Being a believer in social action, Joselyn volunteered alongside Lucy Quist, MD of Airtel Ghana to participate in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative. Aside that, she has the Joselyn Canfor-Dumas Foundation which focuses on social issues such as providing for children, widows etc. What should this mean to you? It simply means that there is a place for a social work. Not every day, yourself. Sometimes, others. “A noble leader answers not to the trumpet calls of self-promotion, but to the hushed whispers of necessity.” ―Mollie Marti 4. Sharing your passion Forget that Joselyn is brand ambassador of Range Rover Evoque and Jobberman Ghana. Forget that she was the host of “The One Show”. What does Joselyn have to call her own? There is a crop of entrepreneurs sweeping across the African continent and Joselyn is one of them. She is following her passion to make sure those who share in it also have jobs to do. Joselyn is the founder of Virgo Sun Production Company Limited. What about you? Will you feed the entrepreneur in you? Will you allow others to share in your passion? [bctt tweet=”Are you acting professionally in any role you are playing like @Joselyn_Dumas?” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 5. Perfecting your profession Finally, you remember the movies “Perfect Picture” or better still, how about “Love or Something Like That”? You don’t? That’s fine. But you cannot tell me that you do not remember the sensational “Adams Apple” which featured Joselyn as leading cast member, Jennifer Adams. Due to this and other appearances, Joselyn has been branded as part of the professional actresses who are glamorous and best dressed. I did not make this up. Nkonkonsa.com did. So my question is this: Are you acting professionally in any role you are playing? Are you executing that role to perfection? I wish I had a slick conclusion. But this cuts it for me- Above lies the story of Joselyn Dumas. She inspires herself and people like me every day. Be like Joselyn. She can inspire you too!
Ways To End (The Year) Strong
Feeling down and unaccomplished as the year comes to an end? Or just feeling down because the stars aren’t aligned in your favour? Each day brings so many different feelings. Some days are happy and celebratory. However, others leave you feeling unaccomplished. This can be heightened at the end of the year when you see others celebrate all they have accomplished during the year. We’re here to say, so what if you haven’t accomplished all of your goals? There is definitely something worth celebrating. This guide is a self-esteem boost that will ensure you finish off strong! No matter how big or small your achievements are, don’t think less of yourself. This guide will give you that kick you need to finish out strong and take on new challenges like a boss. Topics this guide will cover: How showing gratitude helps, Ways to stay calm and focused, Celebrating the little things, How to prepare for the fresh start. This is how you should after this guide Complete with worksheets, templates and ideas to help boost yourself esteem regardless of the time of the year. Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=72]
How To Create A Holiday Season Strategy
Want to take full advantage of the holiday season for your business? There will always be holiday seasons throughout the year and smart Motherland Moguls know those are the best times to promote your business. Many businesses make their biggest gains during the holiday season. See why you need to create a strategy? You need to fine tune your marketing strategies to cater to the holidays. Holidays bring so many amazing opportunities and you need to be ready to take full advantage of it and this guide will help you do that. Topics this guide will cover: When and how often to come up with the strategies, Using your business as a problem solver, Ways to promote your holiday season offers, Ideas on what your business can offer. You go Motherland Mogul! It is the season for your business to shine! Complete with ideas and tips on how to create great strategies for the holiday season. Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=66]
Budget Like A Pro This Holiday Season
Don’t want to start the New Year with no money? It is the holiday season and if you’re like us, you’re very excited to buy your friends and loved ones great gifts and go to the best hangouts. And it doesn’t just stop there, you may also be planning a vacation for yourself. You know what this means once January comes around. We know you won’t be excited when you see how your bank accounts look after the season. To avoid this, you need to master the art of budgeting. Budget like a pro! Budgeting allows you spend your money wisely and still have some left. There is nothing wrong with going shopping with friends, buying gifts for your loved ones (or even for yourself). However that feeling after spending all that money is terrible. Topics this guide will cover: How to set financial goals Ways to keep your spending at a minimal rate Ways to save and keep track of your money We don’t want you looking at your bank account like this in 2017; This guide is complete with ideas and ways to budget better, save money and spend smarter! Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=57]
The SLA Guide to Closing Up Shop
Ready to end your year the right way for your business? You have worked extremely hard for 12 months and the year is finally coming to an end. It’s time for you to close up and take a break. But wait! You can’t just leave like that! You have to close up the right way. The end of the year is the time for you to step back and look all what you have been doing. It’s the time to figure out what worked and what didn’t. Its also the time to appreciate everyone who worked and helped to make your business successful. That’s how you leave with a bang and get ready for the new year. Topics this guide will cover: How businesses should reflect on the year, Why you should appreciate your clients and referral sources, Reviewing and analysing current business strategies, Changing and setting new goals for the new year. We want you to feel like this after closing up; Complete with worksheets to help you keep track of who you’re thanking and templates to guide you in creating new strategies. This is a guide all businesses need! Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=60]
7 C’s To Great Communication
Want some simple tips be a great communicator? Great communication is key in our daily lives and it’s even more important in our businesses and workplaces. There is nothing worse than sharing your ideas and thoughts but no one understands. That is why as a business savvy woman, you should strive to be not just a communicator but a great one. The are many books that can teach you how to be a great communicator. However, we understand that it is very hard to find time to read and let’s be real, some of these books make things too complicated. So we made things easy and simple with this guide to great communication. Topics this guide will cover: How to make your points clear, Using tones and gestures to communicate, The importance of communicating with confidence. You want people listening to you like This guide breaks things down so all you need to become a great communicator are these 7 C’s! Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. Get the guide (It’s free) The 7 Cs of great communication First Name Email City Country –AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaireBosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCanary IslandsCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChannel IslandsChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCote DIvoireCroatiaCubaCuracaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreat BritainGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuyanaHaitiHawaiiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIndiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea NorthKorea SouthKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedoniaMadagascarMalaysiaMalawiMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMidway IslandsMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNambiaNauruNepalNetherland AntillesNetherlands (Holland, Europe)NevisNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalau IslandPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of MontenegroRepublic of SerbiaReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSt BarthelemySt EustatiusSt HelenaSt Kitts-NevisSt LuciaSt MaartenSt Pierre & MiquelonSt Vincent & GrenadinesSaipanSamoaSamoa AmericanSan MarinoSao Tome & PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTahitiTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IsTuvaluUgandaUnited KingdomUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican City StateVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands (Brit)Virgin Islands (USA)Wake IslandWallis & Futana IsYemenZaireZambiaZimbabwe Opt in to receive news and updates. Submit Congratulations! You’re one step closer to being a great communicator. Get your guide HERE .
The SLA Gratitude List
Are you excited to see how far you have come and what you have accomplished this year? All too soon, 2016 is coming to an end. This year has been a very interesting yet amazing year. But if we’re keeping it real, there are some Motherland Moguls who feel like they haven’t achieved anything these past 365 days. To that, we say; count your blessings! No matter how big or small your accomplishments are, you need to celebrate even the small steps forward you’ve taken. This guide will help you identify the amazing things about you that you’re most likely overlooking. In this guide, you’ll find; General themes that you may include in your gratitude list, Why you should keep a gratitude list, and how, Suggestions on how to celebrate your achievements. You should feel like this while counting your blessings: Complete with worksheets to help you make your list, this guide will help you see how far you have come and give you reasons to celebrate. The best thing is, you don’t have to wait for the year to end to count y our blessings! Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=54]
10 things to accomplish in your career in your twenties
[bctt tweet=”The top 10 career lessons you should master in your twenties to be the #boss ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s never too late (or too early) to accomplish anything in your career. I do not believe that there’s a calendar that everyone should follow as they go about in life. Advancing in your career in your twenties is not easy at all. Life gets more complex as we get older and having some guidelines is what every girl needs. To keep the momentum going in your career, there are things you can do to propel you even further. Read on for the top 10 career lessons you should master in this decade of your life. 1. Establish career goals In order to get to where you want to go, you have to first figure out where you want to go. Do not be one of those people who think that the career they want will be handed to them without clear planning and execution. In your twenties, think long and hard about what you want to achieve. Once you’ve thought things through, put in deliberate effort to achieve them. It is rare that things will go exactly as planned, so you have to adjust your plans accordingly. Imagine your job as an engineer turned out to be such a headache that you cannot bear to do it an extra day. You will then have to regularly revisit and adjust your career plan accordingly. 2. Build meaningful relationships Any smart woman knows it’s very important to develop good professional relationships. This should not just be internally in your organisation but also with external stakeholders (think customers, suppliers). You have probably heard the phrase that your network is your net worth. All opportunities are attached to people. They won’t come to you in a vacuum. Investing in meaningful relationships during your twenties is key. [bctt tweet=”Don’t allow your professional growth to stall in your 20s! Use these tips and learn” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Experiment with a side hustle Everyone should experiment with a side hustle outside their careers, yes even you. Taking up a side hustle has many pros. It has the potential to not only enrich your life, but also expand your horizons. A side hustle can be a good way to try out a new career with minimal risks. Also, with a side hustle you can develop skills you wouldn’t have developed at your day job. This can ultimately get you to where you want to be, with a more meaningful job. Don’t allow your professional growth to stall in your twenties! Take up a side hustle can accelerate your learning. 4. Give back to your community You can always do more than that by giving back to your local community. There are many opportunities to add value, no matter your financial situation. Don’t think that it is only those who are balling that who can give back. Find out what is it that you care about and look for ways to get involved. Volunteer for your local church, participate in your company’s corporate social responsibility projects, start your own non-profit or give to a charitable foundation. Whatever cause is close to your heart, get involved in making this world a better place. It needs you. 5. Invest in yourself Don’t wait for an employer to invest in you. What will happen if they don’t believe in you and your colleagues keep getting the opportunities? Take charge of your personal development by setting aside money in your budget just for this purpose. Buy books, take courses and utilize free resources. Find career sites to follow in your industry. Do not be too broke to invest in yourself. [bctt tweet=”You’re in charge of your own success but let’s be real, you’ll need some help to get that career you want ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 6. Get a mentor/sponsor/coach You are in charge of your own success. But let’s be real, the most successful professionals are those who realise that they need help and ask for it. Identify some people you admire and reach out to them. A sponsor in your industry of choice can determine whether you grow in your company or don’t. If you can’t get a mentor or sponsor, buy the services of a coach and make good use of them. You will most likey get some tough love, and it might be just you need to succeed. Getting come accountability in your life is one of the first steps to success. 7. Build your personal brand Whether you want to believe it or not, you are building a personal brand with every interaction you have. So, why not take charge of developing it into something you admire? Make a conscious decision on how you want to be perceived by others and make an effort to get there. It will take time to grow your personal brand but once you get started, you will not want to stop. 8. Build an enviable work ethic When we are young, we dream about all the things we’ll be. As we grow older though, we realize that nothing comes to the dreamer. Instead, the people who achieve great things are those who work on their dreams every time they get. Your twenties are the time to bust your ass working to prove yourself in your industry. If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you have never had. [bctt tweet=”Your twenties are the time to bust your ass working, these 10 tips ensure it’s not all in vain” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 9. Be comfortable in your own skin I remember when I was just starting my career, I was shy and very introverted, always scared to raise my voice. As I got older, I got comfortable with my personality and what I had to offer to the world. Too many times, we are afraid to speak out because of inner criticism. Do not be so hard on yourself. Put on some bravery, learn your weaknesses but accentuate your strengths.
SLA’s Career Strategy Guide
Heard about a career strategy but not sure how to go about it? We’ve talked about this before. How can you not have a career strategy? SLA contributor Tamaan Wilkinson, schooled us on the importance of having a career strategy. You need to know off heart the steps that you’ll be taking to become the boss of your career. This new guide will help you strategically plan and achieve your career goals. Topics this guide will cover: Setting your career vision Determining the skills you need for your career What to do if you don’t know what your career goals are It’s all because, we want this to be you: Complete with worksheets, space for reviews and lots of ideas for helping you get that career that you’ll love, this guide is must have for all women who want to be #MotherlandMogul bosses. Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. SLA’s Career Strategy Guide Sign up for free access! First Name Email City Country –AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaireBosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCanary IslandsCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChannel IslandsChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCote DIvoireCroatiaCubaCuracaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreat BritainGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuyanaHaitiHawaiiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIndiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea NorthKorea SouthKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedoniaMadagascarMalaysiaMalawiMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMidway IslandsMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNambiaNauruNepalNetherland AntillesNetherlands (Holland, Europe)NevisNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalau IslandPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of MontenegroRepublic of SerbiaReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSt BarthelemySt EustatiusSt HelenaSt Kitts-NevisSt LuciaSt MaartenSt Pierre & MiquelonSt Vincent & GrenadinesSaipanSamoaSamoa AmericanSan MarinoSao Tome & PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTahitiTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IsTuvaluUgandaUnited KingdomUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican City StateVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands (Brit)Virgin Islands (USA)Wake IslandWallis & Futana IsYemenZaireZambiaZimbabwe Opt in to join the SLA Community Submit Congratulations! Now go be the CEO of your career! Get your guide HERE .
What to do if you are aiming for a board seat
[bctt tweet=”A board position is not out of your reach if you play your cards right.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Landing a seat on a corporate board is a well grounded career path for any successful woman executive. Not only will it expose you to a quality network of high profile individuals but it can also be a viable way to use your experience and skills to serve at a very high level. Serving as a director can also be a good post retirement gig. According to a report by Africa Development bank (AfDB), women make up only 14.4% of boards of blue chip companies in Africa. If you want to get on a board of directors at some point in your career you have to be intentional about your career experiences. Here are six tips that can help you tick this well-regarded role off your career bucket list. 1. Consider your motivation Being a board of directors is prestigious and can open lots of other opportunities for you. However, you should want it for the right reasons. It is more than the prestige and the status. A more noble reason would be wanting to make a valuable contribution using the skills and experience you have amassed during your career. Being clear about why you want a seat is very important because you will be able to answer questions such as which positions that you are interested in, what your value proposition will be and how your interests, experience, strengths align to a director position. You will then be able to establish your goals and the strategy that will get you there. [bctt tweet=”Being on a board of directors is more than the prestige and the status” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Work on your personal brand and gain work experience Landing a seat at the table is is usually reserved for older executives who have several years of experience in their field. You have to earn extensive experience in your field. Embrace every opportunity to work with a board of directors, even if it means just presenting or serving in an advisory role. To improve your chances of landing this role, establish yourself as an expert in your field. Be visible by taking up speaking engagements, building a blog and a community around your brand. Review how the careers of successful board members progressed. How did their careers progress and what can you emulate? A simple search online will get you good answers on these questions. 3. Start networking These positions are not advertised so it is important for you to know people in similar roles. It is board members who already serve on company boards who are approached for similar roles. Connect and develop relationships with board members. Get help from them on how to how to craft your CV for a board seat. Let them know that you are interested in a position if it comes up. That way, when the next position opens, you might just get recommended for it. 4. Don’t be afraid to start small You probably won’t start off on a board of a public company. You will have to start off by serving on a smaller company board or a start-up. Even the small roles might still be hard to find and you will have get your name out there and let people know that you are interested in such roles. Volunteering for a board position at a local non-profit might be your gateway to your career aspirations. 5. Start your own business Entrepreneurs are attractive people for roles on a board of directors because they have worn too many hats in their career. Starting and running a successful business equips you with a lot of skills ranging from goal setting, strategic planning, financial acumen, industry knowledge, problem solving, that are invaluable to a a board. [bctt tweet=”Did you know that entrepreneurs are attractive people for roles on a board of directors?” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most people who were able to get board positions at an early age did so because of a successful business that they helped set up and grow. So why not do the same? 6. Training There are several courses you can consider to improve your skills. It is important to note that you will not be hired for a board position solely on the basis of training. Find out where your weaknesses are and compensate these with formal training. For example, if you’re short on financial skills and corporate governance, you could consider getting training in those areas. There are also specific courses for aspiring directors that you could pursue. Women stand a bigger chance and there’s a higher demand by stakeholders to have more diverse boards. A board position is not out of your reach if you play your cards right.